The Lady Eagles are ready to start where they left off last year.  After a very successful 2008-2009 season with a 22-9 record, coming out of the district and winning the Region, barely falling short in the Sub-State the Seymour Lady Eagles are ready to take it to the next level.
Practice started October 26th and the Lady Eagles have had three scrimmages since that date.  Expectations are high considering most of last year’s starters are returning.  The three seniors should provide the leadership it takes to accomplish the goals Coach Andy Rines has in mind.
Rines, who played basketball at Jefferson County high School and coached at West, Heritage and Maryville college before coming to Seymour High School in 2008, reflects on the upcoming season and practice so far.  “Practice has gone well overall.  Our defense has been very good.  It’s ahead of our offense at this point.  We haven’t been shooting well.”  Shooting and offense usually starts low and gets better as the season goes along, because timing has to be established.  Defense can be picked up quicker.
Seymour will play basically a “man to man defense with some full court pressure depending on who they are playing” said Rines.  “Our offense will consist of motion and multiple sets.”
The Lady Eagles will be lead by senior star player Casie Cowan.  The 5’4” point guard was All County, All District and All Region for the 2008-2009 season.  She recently signed with Cumberland College on a basketball scholarship.  Rines said “Casie is one of the best point guards in our area.  She without question will have a great senior year.”
Another senior, Haley Clark, hasn’t played as much as other starters but should have a big year.  “She has size and a lot of athletic ability at the post position.”
Senior Leslie Davis according to Coach Rines “will be a big contributor coming off the bench as the six player.  She is a big shooter who was slowed last year with a leg injury.”
Junior Shae Brown a returning starter from last year at wing will play a major part in repeating another successful season.  Last year she was All County, All District and All Region.
With so much experience Coach Rines didn’t think the freshmen players would play a major varsity role this season; however he feels they will lay a very important cornerstone for the future.
As all the other sports this year at Seymour, basketball will be in the new IMAC conference.  This means tougher competition as they move up in classification from 3A to 4A.
“For the most part, teams will be bigger than us and some will have more speed.  The IMAC has a lot of great athletes and great teams.  Morristown West is the best team I’ve ever seen. They are the pre-season favorite to win the state” said Rines.
So far the Lady Eagles have had three tough scrimmages with Heritage, Dobbins-Bennett and South Green.  Rines commented, “Playing the best competition in pre-season only makes you stronger.”
The season begins this week with a jamboree at Pigeon Forge and the first game against William-Blount.  The Seymour Herald will provide coverage throughout the season.

… read the rest of the story by Subscribing now.

... read the rest of the story by Subscribing now.